Customer Ratings & Reviews

This sound bar had amazing sound. After 5 minutes it would cut out and the volume would crank up to 30! Had to return it.

Have two of the same sound bars and had to return one because it wouldn’t connect to ARC TV, like the other I setup and been enjoying for serval months now.

This is a powerful soundbar, and I do think that it gives good "surround" sound. But, after having it about a month, it works less than 50% of the time. It won't connect via HDMI to the TV at all, Bluetooth connection is very spotty/skippy, and WiFi is a no-go. The display is hard to see, and it is VERY heavy. After paying through the nose to have GeekSquad set it up, I'm having to schedule a 2nd visit to try to sort it out. Not pleased, and at this point I would not recommend it.

I bought this soundbar 2 months ago and really have had nothing but problems from day 1. I bought this to go with the Q90R TV I purchased thinking keep it all Samsung. It has just been one headache after another. The connection through HDMI ARC keeps getting lost. I have to unplug everyday at least twice a day to get it back for a little while. When I switch from ARC to HDMI 1 input for my 4k blur ray player, I get sound for a minute then the soundbar goes back to ARC and then I can't change it back and it completely freezes. I have read other people having issues with no resolution. The other issue was lip sync. I tried the sync setting on the soundbar and the TV, and could never find a balance. At least on cable tv it seemed like the lip sync issue was really bad. Samsung had me ship the soundbar to them out. I hope they can figure it out, but I don't really feel confident about this as I have read and heard so many other people having similar problems. If I get it back and everything works as it is supposed to, I will come back and update this review.

Primary reason for returning was it would randomly cut out, it would jump between the ARC TV mode and the DN1 mode regardless of the input (TV, Blu Ray Player, etc...). Also, was not as impressed with the overall surround sound experience as I thought I would be given the price. I returned it and got a BOSE 700 with subwoofer and I like the sound quality and experience much better.

This Samsung SW-Q90R is a beast. It came in a box felt like it weighed about 50 lbs and the box is so large it's difficult to pack it around with just 1 person. Just the soundbar itself weighs in at 20 lbs. and it's wider than my Samsung 55" KS 8500 TV. Solid build is an understatement. The soundbar has a classy but minimalist look. It doesn't stand out, which is a good thing. The SW-Q90R supports both Dolby Atmos & DTS:X and uses a total of 13 drivers, including upward firing speakers and left and right speakers to create its field of sound. The setup is fairly easy with one caveat. Hook the soundbar and subwoofer to power, and they connected almost immediately (there are no wires between the two, so within about 30 ft. subwoofer placement is basically only limited by the availability of a power outlet). Once the soundbar was connected to my Samsung TV, it was immediately recognized the soundbar -- but I couldn't get any sound out of it. Consulting the manual I found that the connection had to be via the ARC interface, not standard HDMI. Sound. Cool. Controlling the HW-Q70R is a breeze. You can either use the provided controller, your TV remote, or even the SmartThings app. If you have an Amazon Alexa device in your home, you can even use your voice to control the soundbar. One of the new features found on the HW-Q80R is the Adaptive Sound mode, which analyses the audio and processes the sound using the appropriate channels. What that basically means is that if you're watching the news, the processing will emphasize the center channel for clearer dialogue. Alternatively, if you're listening to music then the left and right channels are prioritized, while all the channels are used to enhance the crowds at a football game or the sound effects during a movie or video game. The HW-Q80R includes many other features such as built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well as support for numerous lossy and lossless audio formats including AAC, WAV, OGG, ALAC, AIFF and FLAC so you can stream music straight from your phone to the soundbar. I connected my phone to the soundbard to listen to some music. The HW-Q80 didn't disappoint, delivering an excellent stereo performance that would please even the most demanding of music fans. The stereo imaging was impressive, with clarity in the vocals and precise placement of instruments. So the HW-Q80R is excellent at reproducing music, but what about TV audio? Whether you're watching the news or a TV show the Samsung delivers the dialogue with clear precision. Music is distributed evenly over either side of the screen. I then moved on to what high end soundbars are all about: UHD movies featuring Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio. I popped in one of the best Atmos soundtracks I've listened to -- Aquaman. Lots of bass and low frequency sounds throughout, which the Samsung sub handled very well. Object based sounds were apparent, but front heavy. Of course this is not fault of Samsung as this kit has no rear surround speakers, and sound processing to simiulate surround can only do so much. But still, here is where I feel Samsung's HW-Q80R fails. Let me explain. All the release info stated the SW-Q80R uses the same soundbar and subwoofer as Samsung's top end SW-Q90R, but offers a lower entry cost as it doesn't come with the rear surround speakers. While that might be true hardware-wise, it isn't software-wise. The firmware doesn't list the option of overhead adjustment for rear speakers. You cannot simply purchase and add the SW-Q90R satellite speakers and have the same system -- apparently the firware doesn't support it. Samsung's own web pages stated you can add a wireless rear speaker kit, but what it doesn't state is that kit is the Samsung SWA-9000S Rear Wireless Speaker Kit, which does not support Atmos -- it lacks the upward firing drivers, so no overhead. This means that even if you add this kit, any overhead sound affects will be front heavy. So while you might hear something coming at you from over head, you won't hear it disappear behind you -- and you won't hear any overhead sounds originating from behind you. For me, this is a big fail on Samsung's part. Why would I want to add non-Atmos/non-DTS:X rear speakers to an Atmos/DTS:X system? If at some point you want genuine 7.1.4-channel system with a wireless subwoofer and wireless rear speakers combined with four overhead channels, don't get the SW-Q80R -- you will have to replace it. The only way to get is to purchase the SW-Q90R, which is the only soundbar as of this writing which supports a true 7.1.4 setup. This prevents me from giving the SW-Q80R a 5/5. While it comes in at a lower price point than Samsung's top-of-the-line SW-Q90RFor the high end price , it's still comes with a high-end price and you should be able to upgrade to a 7.1.4 system. The Samsung HW-Q80R is a great soundbar from the company, with a beefy new subwoofer and tuning by Harman Kardon. It's well made, and comes with plenty of features. This soundbar is impressive with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, creating a big but understandabley front heavy soundstage. It also sounds great with music. The only complaint I have is its purposely restricted upgradeability. While I would recommend this unit, it's with the caveat that you feel you'll never want to upgrade to a true 7.1.4 surround setup.

Not the greatest sound bar. Not what I expected. Could be better. Wire systems sound better. Cant really recommend

Having had a fairly good experience with the last version of the Samsung - Harman Kardon Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and DTX:X support (HW-N850), I was wondering what significant changes or updates there may be on the new (and hopefully improved) HW-Q80RZA. Well, the packaging is still HUGE! The actual soundbar still has the same design and dimensions and it still takes a lot of space on the TV stand. It is still well constructed and heavy. The wireless subwoofer, on the other hand, now has a slightly different design. The enclosure is a bit smaller although the speaker has remained 8” in size. Also, the speaker mesh now covers only the speaker as opposed to the entire side. The remote has remained the same. Installation and set-up are easy. I have a 4K HDR TV with HDMI-ARC, an XBOX ONE X, and a PlayStation 4 Pro. These are all connected to the soundbar via HDMI-ARC. Also, I have a PC and a Nintendo Switch connected to the soundbar via digital optical. Plugging in the cords in the proper port is pretty much self-explanatory. I was never able to fully make use of the HDR-thru capability on the HW-N850. The picture would lose colors, become distorted, and even blank out unexpectedly. This caused me to simply have it off on both consoles. Well, the HW-Q80R immediately recognized the HDR signal on both consoles and has not even blinked one bit! This alone is a great improvement from my last experience. The soundbar is responsive both through the onboard buttons and the remote. As far as sound performance, which is the main reason to have one of these in the first place, it still retains the same awesome quality, but I could detect a small difference in sound signature. The sound seems more expansive as far as soundstage. The left and right channels differentiate clearly where the main sounds are coming from. The highs appear to be a more recessed this time, and because the system can get very loud, it can get a bit tricky to find the balance between loud and still hear voices clearly. Even when “Adaptive Sound” is selected this can be a bit of a balancing act. Of course, sound quality, directional coding, and clarity may depend heavily on the source material. Also, the bass seems to have been amplified more than the previous version. I had to lower the bass to -3 level in order to enjoy it (I rather have clarity than booming sound, since I am not much of a “basshead”). Listening to music with this device is an incredible experience. The highs, lows, and mids all show up in amazing detail. Although I did lower the bass level, the music had weight. I mostly used the “simulated surround” as this gives the feeling of being at a concert. Alexa and Bixby are nice additions as well. Great job there. As far as ATMOS is concerned, it is the one feature that makes or breaks the deal due to the hefty price. I had a bit of an issue detecting the ATMOS sounds with the last version. At the moment, only the XBOX and Netflix offer a limited amount of ATMOS content signal in my setup. Once I selected this on the console, the soundbar immediately recognized it. The HW-Q80R seems to have noticeably improved this feature. It is hard to describe how full, powerful and encompassing the sound is when listening to compatible content. Although one must still be in a certain place to clearly perceive overhead sound (this depends on the layout, furniture, shape of the room, and body position), it still creates a good auditory experience. Perhaps not quite as perfect as when using true ceiling speakers, but quite impressive, nonetheless. Playing 4K discs with ATMOS provides the best outcome so far. Sadly, I could not test the DTX:X as I do not have/own any content with that feature. I also had an enjoyable time playing videogames. The sound comes from the right places, especially when playing first-person shooters. The explosions are felt, and the music complements the action. One last thing to mention is that I already owned the SWA-9000S Wireless Rear Speakers which paired up easily. Keep in mind that I tested the soundbar without them for this review. However, adding these is highly recommended if you really want to enjoy the full cinematic experience. Overall, I am again amazed by the great work Samsung/Harman Kardon have put into this system. While the improvements from the last version may not warrant an upgrade (perhaps the HDR-passthrough is an exception), it certainly is worth considering if you do not have a sound system, or have one without ATMOS. I certainly believe it is worth the price!

Initial setup was fairly easy, however when I setup Alexa things changed. No good instructions on what to do and everything pointing to the smart things app. 8 hours later I was doing research on my Windows 10 laptop and stumbled across a web page which linked the soundbar and Alexa using a PC. Now I finally had Alexa working on my soundbar. Hold on because when I tried to go from Alexa playing music from Amazon Music back to movie watching all inputs quit working. Had to reboot all systems to recover. Now lets move on to sound quality. I have been around AV equipment for 50 years and for the price (Harmon Kardon) should sound 10x better. I purchased the 9000 rear speaker kit which was simple to hook up however volume control does not let you turn up loud enough to appreciate. Base module is the same way. -6 to +6. What a disappointment. At low volume sound was OK (Better then TV speaker) Mid sound had lack of sub and rear sound even when on +6 and using Equalizer from Smart Things App. Highs are where it really falls short blurred sound, distorted, and reminding me of my 1960'S RCA with a tube ready to blow. Cost vs. Quality you make the call???

Worked great until random stuff started playing in the middle of the night, or quit playing twice this week.

Very disappointed with my purchase of my Q80 Soundbar. Initial results were good surround sound, considering there are no rear speakers, just the sound bouncing off the ceiling. My issues have been with the fact that the ARC ( wired) connection quit working all together. After well over an hour on the phone with Samsung rep who barely spoke english, I gave up and connected via Blue Tooth. Sometimes that stays connected for a month or so, if not, I go to Wifi connection. Again, hit of miss, sometimes it stays connected, other times not. I called Samsung to get a service tech to come out to see this while it was under warranty and they said they would send me a shipping label to ship the entire thing to them in NJ. NO way. I don't have have the original BIG box and not dealing with that. I use it when it decides to work, via Bluetooth or wifi. ARC won't work at all, even with replacement high end cable. JUNK......... SO SORRY that I bought this.

Considering the performance of the soundbars we’ve all owned and enjoyed for years the Samsung Q80 makes big promises right out of the box; the sheer mass of this unit seems to dwarf most of its competitors. Then you go to set up your sound system (At this point it must be mentioned that had it been successful, setup for this unit is blissfully simple and easy) and the power connection points feel better suited for something you’d find in the bargain bin. They felt insubstantial. This particular Samsung Q80 soundbar produced smoke and sparks instead of sound (from the aforementioned power port on the subwoofer). With all of the current chaos the store neglected to offer a replacement unit. My first truly disappointing experience with Samsung or Best Buy.

It’s good but they told me at Best Buy I wouldn’t need rear surround sound speakers and I disagree

The first time I purchased this item it stopped producing audio through the HDMI after 1 year. I then spent over 2 months dealing with the Samsung refund process which was a complete nightmare. With the assumption that I would be getting the refund I came to Best Buy and purchased a replacement (refund was finally processed 2 months later). Now 3 months after I purchased the replacement this one has blown out. HDMI does not transfer any video or audio and all of the inputs either on the bar or via the remote respond with nearly a 30 second delay. I am now having panic attacks about needing to deal with Samsung refund/replacement again as this is still under the manufacturers warranty despite having purchased the 4 year Geek Squad service. Do NOT buy this product. If you do, cross your fingers and hope that you got a protection plan with it and that it doesn't fail during the manufacturers warranty.

On my second one currently. ARC works for a few days and then stops. Continually unplugging the HDMI cables and powering down for an hour plus to drain power, and plugging everything back in again does work, but come on Samsung. The ARC function is garbage. I may have to return this one as well.

I purchased this sound bar and subwoofer combo on 10 May 2020. On 13 May 2020 the display screen stopped working and I had to contact Samsung Support to help get it working. We tried all the “available” Tier one steps and that didn’t work. I had to send it in for repair after owning for 3 days. The sound bar was retuned to me on 22 May 2020. I unpacked it and began the set up process only to find that the subwoofer wouldn’t pair with the sound bar. I tried the manual method approximately 10 times. Reluctantly I called Samsung Support and they had me do the same thing I just tried and still no result. They only option was to “send it back for repair.” No, I’ll be returning it to Best Buy and never buy another Samsung product again!

Ok. Nothing too exciting. Not cheap either. Just ok

The Samsung Soundbar was super simple to set up. The soundbar paired to the sub woofer immediately upon turning both on. I used a HDMI cord to connect the soundbar to my TV through the HDMI ARC input. The sound on this is truly amazing. It comes out clear, crisp and sharp. I can hear things in music that I have never noticed before. One thing that I just realized is that this can be used for a regular wireless speaker - not just for your home theater. I can blast my favorite music from my phone through the soundbar and really annoy my teenager. I love it! It is definitely the loudest speaker we have ever owned. The soundbar is big. Make sure you have enough room for it. I have a 55" TV that is mounted on stand. The soundbar just fits on the stand with a little space on each side. It would not fit with a cable box or anything else on the same shelf. This is a great system to enhance your movies, TV and music!

Sound was great until it would not power up. Only had it for 1.5 years. 1 year warranty so out of luck.

I like good audio and returned this soundbar. I hoped the small profile would work but the sound was hollow compared to my much larger Paradigm floor standing speakers.